Albany Democrats do not favor the redistricting rules in New York, that is no secret. However, the whole truth is that they never did like it. For years, they have been trying to undermine those rules and create more favorable, partisan maps. This is another example of the negative consequences of New York’s one-party rule.

Every 10 years, new voting districts are approved as a result of the most recent census. In 2014, New Yorkers wanted a transparent process for creating those districts, and they wanted to ensure that voting districts were not manipulated by the majority party in Albany, thus creating the Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC). New Yorkers reaffirmed their desires when Albany Democrats tried to weaken that commission in 2021; voters rejected the proposed changes.

When the IRC failed to draft a map in 2022, Albany Democrats drafted favorable maps outside the IRC; those maps were struck down as unconstitutional. In 2024, Albany Democrats did it again. They rejected the maps by the IRC and tried to draft their own, more favorable maps. Additionally, Albany Democrats changed the law to require legal challenges against redistricted maps to be brought to Democrat-elected judges. Despite these changes, the New York State Court of Appeals again struck down the maps as unconstitutional.

Rural communities already struggle to make their voices heard in Albany. We are far from the political power centers of New York City and the Capitol, but our concerns are real: a safe community, lower energy costs and energy choice, lower taxes, good schools and good-paying jobs are important to us; we want our children and our families to stay here. When Albany Democrats consistently try to circumvent the voter-approved redistricting commission, it is another reminder that our voice too often gets ignored.

Although it will be cloaked as a responsive measure, the rules are about to change, again. This year, Albany Democrats will propose changes to make it easier for them to create more favorable maps; voters should have an opportunity to reject those changes, again.

I will continue to support the independent redistricting process, respect the will of voters and keep raising my voice for our district and the concerns of my constituents.

Assemblyman Andrew Molitor represents the 150th Assembly District, encompassing all of Chautauqua County.